Author Topic: The Lazy Thumb.......and other fishing stories (Read 48314 times)

Kent · « **on:** October 23, 2015, 08:29:53 PM »

..This obsession of mine with kob on spoon with a multiplier and nylon only took on a new meaning about ten or so years ago. As the weeks go by I will share my stories on this path of enlightenment that I call ….”The art of fishing without actually fishing....”

Now before you all run off and refer me to a shrink or the like , just take a read and these are my own experience and by NO MEANS the only way to target kob on lure or spoon ….BUT...Im quick to add that IT IS MY WAY,,,,and Ive had many successes over the last fully documented 9 years.

Why kob you ask??...Well, for one these are fairly wily fish and when hunted in their natural eating OR when they are more prone to eat , coz Im sure ALL fish eat all of the time...its the way of the sea , then one needs to find out what they like...No , not bait or what lure ...but...what conditions they are most likely to go on the bite , so to speak...BUT...lets go back a bit before we actually get into the whys , wheres and whatfors concerning the kob. Here we need to look at what it takes to hunt these silver beauts of our fantastic South African coast line.

For awhile I had been thinking and admiring how the bass societies of the world could make a million zillion dollar industry out of just ONE species of fish.....Well , I then embarked on the same quest for glory by doing this with spoon and kob in the sea and not in rivers. I can hear many of you sniggering and thinking , what a chop to limit oneself like that....Well Folks , that may be so , BUT, over the last 10 years its been a most satisfying quest and have had many successes , also with many blanks. Anyhow more of this later.

Back to the equipment side of things. Being taught on multipliers , I was determined to follow this journey with just such reel. My reel of choice 12 years ago was and still is a Daiwa SL30. Why??...well , coz it was the best reel at the time I could afford and the most modern reel in simplicity to the great Jigmaster that I cut my teeth on. At this time coffee grinders were coming to the for and they were starting to take favour with many fisherman for many facets of fishing....BUT...I was gonna do this with a multiplier.

My rod at that time was a Shimano Exage 110H , great rod and can throw from a 1oz spoon to a 6oz spoon and lotsa back bone to muscle any fish..I then put 13kg line on my SL30 and off I went....for at least the first 2 years it was “moer n soek” type method and threw everything at the sea at any time of the day , just so was my eagerness!!!....I bought books..etc etc magazines and still could not find that ONE thing that would get me into the ZONE with kob and spoon....

Everywhere I went and fished I was being told LOW n SLOW ...sand banks....ginger beer water …..early morning ...high tide....low tide.... ......Well, I soon slowed myself down and attached myself to a very good lure fisherman , whom I sort of knew and he then took me to a few spots along our Jikeleza. I immediately noticed that he fished with an 11f rod with a very fast tip an Abu levelwinder and also 12kg line..So...reel and line I was fine ...BUT...I soon realised that the 110H was a tad “heavy” and I also noticed that LS(what I shall call him) threw fairly lightish spoons...AND mainly amongst the bricks...And so begun my journey......

I went about securing myself another rod which had a faster tip and still the backbone. Enter the 12f BM TruFlex. Well.....first outing I had to contend with 1oz to 2oz spoons and this takes some thumb control as any overwinds amongst the bricks means reeling over the bunch up and then going back to peel the bunch up out...while your partner , LS , continues to cast and as you look up he is into a decent fish!!!!...OR ...let the spoon sink and run the overwind out and HOPE your spoon pulls free.....

Many sessions/outings later and I finally get my first 3k kobbie in the bricks with a 1oz spoon, it was about this time I started keeping a diary of every outing/session whether I caught OR not...Noting conditions ..water...barometer...wind...temp....tide ...colour etc etc.....

After my 5^th or so kobbie amongst the bricks I started feeling “awkward” with the 12footer TruFlex , especially as the kob would get close into the bricks to land and bully them in and around the bricks. It was at this time I started looking for a 10 to 11 footer KF Stimulator series rod........

Well Folks this is all for this week and next week I will get to the ALMOST perfect setup to hunt these magnificent fish with only METAL!!!

Keep it clean and ...JUST GO FISH!!!!

colin · « **Reply #1 on:** October 23, 2015, 08:42:53 PM »

waiting for the next instalment.

Kent · « **Reply #2 on:** October 23, 2015, 08:45:05 PM »

Quote from: colin on October 23, 2015, 08:42:53 PM

waiting for the next instalment.

....on its way..BUT,,..first some

this weekend....

WalkersKiller · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2015, 12:15:12 PM »

Nice Kent!

Kent · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2015, 01:58:12 PM »

So now we need to know HOW the 110H , TruFlex and Stimulator crossed paths , or how come these three rods are connected. Once this is revealed we can truly start on this path of enlightenment and JUST GO FISH!!!

I had now had been throwing with the SL30 and 110H for about 4 or so years and it was at this time I found myself doing a stint at one of our local tackle shops. I settled into the days routine and soon gravitated to the duties of sorting out the rod room and the ordering of and the returning of faulty rods/blanks to manufacters.

I noticed that in the storeroom that there were about 15 or so King Fisher Stimulator series rods that were not on the racks OR displayed for sale. I enquired and was told they were not popular and no one took interest in them. I started looking through them and found a 13,6....12,6 and a 10,5 all three pieces and all could cast up to 4oz and all had beautifull tips and a lovely light balanced feel in ones hands. I fancied the the 10,5 and soon found out that they also came in a 11f, which would be the HOLY GRAIL of spinning rods , in my opinion.

These rods averaged out at a grand a piece and at the time was a bit rich for me and proceeded to pack them out and mark them with pricing accordingly. Within in 2 weeks I sold all 15 odd and eventually customers came in asking for Stimulators. When the new stock arrived their pricing had jumped to almost a grand 500!!!...BUT..they still sold!!...AND then ..BOOM!!...KF stopped making them.
NOW...when it comes to rods , everyone has an opinion.....blank this...mandril this....layers that and T this P that etc etc.....I honestly believe that when you pick up a rod and how it feels in your hands , how the tip flex “talks” to you and what you imagine hooking with it ,,,THEN,,,you need to decide IF your wallet can meet its price tag!!!...Of course , you will get the fisherman that wants that “custom” rod ...well...thats a whole different story and Im still not sure what “custom” actually means.

Why am I waffeling on so about a rod??..Well, a good , solid , light , strong well balanced rod that does NOT break the bank BUT will get that record fish to the side as quick as possible for a green release , THAT Folks is pretty NB to get the right rod for this application . Hence my long story.

One chap that worked with me there , had a 11f KF Stimulator . This was given to Blue Marlin to try and match the blank as close as possible. Enter the Tru Flex range. The first Tru Flex,s had gold and red binding identical to the Stimulators and when they hit the shelves felt pretty damn smart!!!

I was then given a 12f to test and needless to say the rod was almost as close as dammit to the Stims...BUT...BM had no 11f blank , but had 10 and 13. So , Folks that is how the TruFlex range came to be, then ,they are now with red binding and the range has grown somewhat and to me the blanks are not the same as the original TruFlex,s and Im still the proud owner of one of the originals!!!

My point with this long story???...You intend to give this type of kob hunting a go ….well ..do NOT pass up the TruFlex range , they are damn fine and value for money solid rods!!!..And NO , Im not a Blue Marlin agent...

I finished my stint at the shop and was now on a mission to find a GOOD second hand Stimulator. It was to be another year and a bit when I bumped into a chap and we got talking and he says he has a rod that he has never used , would I be interested OR try and get it sold for him. Sure , I said and when he walked in the next day , in his hands he had a KF Stimulator 1053 H!!!!!!...

BRAND NEW , still with the Fuji tag and KF tags on. I was too scared to ask how much. He pipes up and says I can have it for R400.00!!! By 16h00 that same day I had paid the man and was now as close as dammit to the HOLY GRAIL of rods for this type of application. Although , I must admit , two years prior I had a chance to cast a few casts with a 11f WAFT Iron feather and to me THAT was THE rod...BUT...at R2500,00 it was not to be.

To date the punchy 1053 Stim has landed quite a few kob and the largest being over 11kg in very shallow water FULL of bricks. The 1053 Stim is a GREAT “little” rod that has TONS of backbone with such a sweet sensitive tip which can feel the lightests of taps by a wary kob . BUT...............

Its still not the HOLY GRAIL...So..the search continues....in the mean time Im still VERY fond of my 1053H Stimulator and should you be lucky to get your hands on one...BUY IT!!!

We , now have the rod sorted and as to the reel , it needs to be simple , tough , have at least a 6 to 1 ratio and not mind having a dip every now and then. As Ive said , my choice is a Daiwa SL30...BUT most 30 or 20 size reel with a 6 to 1 ratio will do the job....BUT the reel needs to be light and durable.

My SL has been slightly moded and sports leather drag washers as opposed to graphite or felt washers or cabontex. I find the leathers are smooth and handle getting wet very well.................

Well Folks this is all for this week and next time we will visit the nitty gritty of getting that nylon nice and “smooth” onto your reel of choice as to reduce and eliminate those pesky birds nest , over winds , bunch ups OR whatever you would call them when that thumb gets a tad LAZY!!!...

Keep it clean and ….

JUST GO FISH!!!

colin · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2015, 05:34:06 PM »

boet, keep them coming

Kent · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2015, 08:29:16 AM »

Quote from: colin on October 28, 2015, 05:34:06 PM

boet, keep them coming

...Pleasure......

Moolla · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2015, 01:18:50 PM »

GREAT STUFF KENT!!!

Kent · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2015, 08:02:27 PM »

Quote from: Moolla on October 29, 2015, 01:18:50 PM

GREAT STUFF KENT!!!

...Pleasure

Kent · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2015, 09:16:20 PM »

...Nylon is a funny word. How it came about , the word and the actual stuff called NYLON. Well , NY stands for New York and LON stands for London. It is said that a scientist from New York and from London co invented the stuff/material and coined the name NY-LON from where they came from.

Nylon is used today in ALL walks of life from material in clothing and more so in womans stockings etc etc and in big industry even in the reels we use , although in present times lighter and even more durable materials are replacing nylon. Then of course , there is the nylon , line , we use for our favourite past time , fishing!!! Although , today its called by many fancy names such as , monofilament or mono for short , co polymer AND even extruded fishing line/nylon is used . You then also get GUT which is a form of nylon , although the term gut could be from the OLD use of animal sinew. Tennis rackets back in the day used GUT.

What we need to know and understand about nylon is that its extremely strong for its diameter and pretty durable to the elements of the sea , sun and wind. BUT , it does not like heat and does not stand up to well if more than 15% of its diameter is compromised. When I started out on this journey , I set out to do this with nylon and as a youngster grew up throwing a multiplier loaded with 20kg Maxima dark green!!!...While this was extremely strong and durable , it was like using rope to fish and cast with!!!....This coupled with a 49A and a 13f ole one piece Blue Marlin that weighed a ton!! Standing on the Gonubie point throwing 5oz spoons for shad for three hours on end was tiring to say the least.

Well once I could throw for about three hours with that 49A and no bunch ups I was later upgraded to the infamous Jigmaster and was given a great 12 foot two piece BM. I fished with this outfit for many many years and about 12 or so years ago I treated myself and bought my first SL30 and the 110H.

When I first embarked on this kob/spoon journey I was given advice on what line to use from King Fisher Giant abrasion , Triple X , Double X , Maxima , Suffix etc etc. I went through rolls and rolls of nylon and still did not get to that SMOOTH ZONE with regard to nylon. One day I suggested to myself to go find a roll of line that would run me around R60 for 600m of .45 at about 13kg. I then happened onto a line called Okuma Max Tough No.7...It was .43 and 12,3kg. This line I used until the beginning of 2014 when Okuma was not brought into the country anymore. I found this line to be super low on memory , super castable and super abrasive resitant and ontop of that it did not “dry” out quickly in the sun.

NOW...the point of this LONG convoluted story is JUST THIS.....One does NOT have to buy the R400 roll of line to get the best out of your fishing AND to feel very secure about the line you are using. For me , LOW memory is of utmost importance ...WHY??...well...imagine youve been casting for about 45 minutes and you suddenly get a rattle and you are now wide awake coz the kobbies are present!!!...Your very next throw , coz you are now excited and your adrenal gland is pumping , you throw a bunch!!!...DAMN!!...You now reel in and need to peel out that bunch as soon and as fast n smooth as possible.

THIS , is where memory is VERY NB!!!...IF..you know your line has very low memory , do NOT peel it off into a pool of water rather peel off onto a dryish rock and not on SAND!!...IF you know your nylon has a fair amount of memory , then peel it off into a pool of water. Nylon with memory builds static...sea water release that...nylon with low memory has little static and sea water will add static. This might seem like a silly thing to remember...BUT...its the difference of you getting that price fish and the difference of snapping off on your next cast!!!!

Sooo, understanding nylon and how it reacts under certain conditions will greatly make your fishing session a pleasure and not frustrating. I always keep a little spray/squirt type bottle in my bag filled with a drop of sunlight liquid and fresh water. After about every 10 or so throws I give two or so squirts and continue my casting session. This reduces friction and also gives you nice smooth , bunch free casts. Salt water continuously deposit salt crystals onto your line and this in turn “cuts” into your line. Some freshwater squirts go a long way to eliminate line degradation . This then brings us to how to load your nylon of choice on your multiplier of choice. Remember , you reel needs to be light , durable , easy to service , at least 6 to 1 ratio and not cost an arm and a leg. Whether , you choose a level winder or not is purely personal choice. For myself I dont like a level winder BUT my partner, LS , uses an Abu level C3500 level winder.
Once you have you nylon of choice and I would suggest dont go lighter than 10kg and no heavier than 13kg.

NOW...get your roll of nylon set up so as you can reel on with a certain amount of tension . Then arm yourself with a piece of cotton , feldt or flannel cloth...NOT NYLON cloth. Some Johnsons PURE baby oil and you are set to load your “new” reel!!!
Dab some oil onto your cloth and let the nylon run through this as you wind onto your reel...On a 20 or 30 size reel you would probably get about 200 or so meters on and all the time run it through the oil wet cloth.

Once done , lightly rinse your reel off in luke warm water and your are now set for your first session on your quest to hunt kob with spoon!!!

Well Folks , this is all for this week and next time on this journey we will get into that 2 meters of line just before it gets attached to your spoon. Those two meters are THE MOST important part of the 200 odd meters of line on your freshly loaded reel!!!

Keep it clean
and

JUST GO FISH!!!